Fernandez bid falls short

INDIANAPOLIS -- Republican Todd Rokita's victory over Bloomington mayor John Fernandez in the race for secretary of state could take on new significance, as the Indiana House appeared headed towards a 50-50 split between Republicans and Democrats late Tuesday.\nThe party that controls the secretary of state's office gets to hold the speaker's gavel in a deadlocked Indiana House.\n"For two years, I've been telling Hoosiers and supporters that the secretary of state race could be an insurance policy for the future of the state," said Rokita, referring to his party's ability to control the Indiana House. "That could be the case."\nAt press time, Rokita led Fernandez 55 percent to 41 percent, with 74 percent of precincts reporting. Meanwhile, a handful of Indiana House races were too close to call.\nFernandez had not conceded and was not available for comment at press time.\nRokita will take over for fellow Republican Sue Ann Gilroy, moving up from the deputy position to become the state's top elections official.\n"I feel vindicated," Rokita said. "It's no fun having a million dollars of negative, untrue ads thrown at you. But the people of Indiana saw through it, and I look forward to serving them."\nRokita was one of only a few Republicans who rained on the Democrat party at the Indianapolis Westin Hotel, where Democrats claimed several key Marion County victories.\nGov. Frank O'Ban-non, who traveled with Fernandez on a bus trip across the state Sunday, said the Democrats always face a tough road to statewide office.\nFernandez's experience was no different, though O'Bannon said Bloomington's mayor did well.\n"John Fernandez did an absolutely excellent job in running," O'Bannon said. "He had a good message, raised a lot of money and ran a great campaign."\nDespite the defeat, O'Bannon said he sees Fernandez as a future leader in the Democratic party and the state.\n"He'll be there again sometime and run for statewide office," O'Bannon said.\nRokita helped pass election reform after the Florida recount, in which he served the Bush campaign as legal counsel in seven counties. He ran his own law practice before becoming deputy secretary of state.\nBoth Rokita and Fernandez earned law degrees from IU.